Steam generating apparatus



J. L. WALL ET AL. 1,975,440

STEAM GENERATING APPARATUS Oct. 2, 1934.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 2, 1934 in L l/ W ps l 4Lz 4g ll 67 4' Ql8m L q u 17 flu 441 MW 9- ie 1;

. 7 L W IN VENTORS- WITNESS .BY PA I r I ATTORNEY:

INVENTORS RALhrter;

V ATTORNEYS Get. 2, 1934.

J. L. WALL ET AL STEAM GENERATING APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Will! e WITNESS Patented OceZ, 1934 1,915,440 I srsm GENEnA'rmGarrmrus James L. Wall and Pratt A. Carter,

Washington, Ga.

Application March 2, 1934, Serial 1W0. 713,717

: Claims. (01. 122-26) This invention relates to an apparatus forgenerating steam.

An object of the invention is the provision of a device including an aircompressor in which a l restricted amount of air at each down stroke ofa reciprocating piston is drawn into the cylinder and compressed withthe quantity of air in the cylinder for creating a high temperature withthe air being 'forced through a radiator submerged in the water in aboiler so that the heat may be used for converting the water into steamwhich is conducted away from the device and used in those plants, suchas pressing establishments, where it is inconvenient or too expensive tosupply a steam i6 plant, the air compressor being driven by an electricmotor.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a simple, compact,and economical apparatus for generating steam for use in establishments:0 where the source of electricity is available but where it isimpractical and too expensive to supply and operate under the usualsteam generating plants.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a compact, simple,and inexpensive steam generating plant including an air compressorhaving a boiler connected to the cylinder head with the steam dome abovethe level of the water in the boiler, the heat interchange means beinglocated in the boiler and submerged in the water, the heat exchangemeans including a. plurality of spaced headers connected by a pluralityof pipes with a restricted communication between the cylinder of the aircompressor and one of the headers, the cylinder of the air compressorbeing provided with a restricted air port in communication with theatmosphere for supplying to the air compressor a limited quantity of airat each down stroke of the piston.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an aircompressor having a port in its cylinder wall open to the atmosphere tosupply: a restricted quantity of' air to the air compressor at each downstroke of the piston with an annular groove in the piston so thatlubricant on 4 the walls of the cylinder and piston will be forced intothe grooves and through a plurality of passages in the piston to theinterior of the same for maintaining lubrication of the wrist pin andfor preventing oil passing beyond the piston and into the'aircompression chamber of the cylinder.

This invention will be. best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description, in view of the accompanying drawingsform- '65 ing a part of the specificationzfnevertheless, it is theprinciples of our invention,

to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure,being susceptible of such changes and modifications as define nomaterial departure from the salient features of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a steam generating apparatusconstructed in accordance with Figure 2 is a vertical section of theapparatus taken at right angles to the section shown in Figure 1, I

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line 33 of Figure 2,-and- Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section showing theoil grooves adjacent the crank pin.

Referring more particularlyto the drawings, 10 "designates an aircompressor cylinder having an air compression chamber 11 with a piston12 mounted for reciprocation within the cylinder. This cylinder ismounted upon a crank case formed of the sections 13 and 14. Thesection14 is provided with a flange 15 for securing the air compressor to asupport.

The piston is operated by means of a crank 16 connected to a shaft 17which in turn is driven by a pulley- 18 and this pulley is adapted to beoperated in any approved manner by means of an electric motor (notshown). A rod 19 connects a wrist pin 20 of the piston 12 with a crankpin 16.

The compressor is lubricated by means of a splash system and apredetermined level of oil is maintained within the chamber 21. The oilwhen desired is drained through a passage 22 which is closed by a plug23. The plug 24 is removed to fill the chamber 21 to the oil levelindicated, after-which the plug 24 is screwed into place.

A pipe 25 is in open communication with the chamber 21 and has an offsetpipe 26 closed by a valve cage 27., A gravity valve 28 is mounted in a"bearing 29 in the valve cage 27 and is open to the atmosphere to permitair to be forced from the chamber 21 upon the down stroke of the piston12. In view of the fact that it is necessary to maintain the air in thecompression chamber 11 free from oil as faras practical; a specialoiling system has been designed to provide for the lubrication of thewalls of the cylinder 10 but to prevent the oil from entering thechamber 11. The piston is provided with a groove 30 to collect the oil.'Below the groove is formed a ring groove 31 in which is mounted a ring32 having a plupipe 6 of the pipe towards the plurality of pipes 64. Theheaders 61 and 62,the pipes 63 and 64 are formed rality of transversepassages 33 through which the oil is adapted to pass from whence ittravels through a passage 34 in the piston 12 and lubricatesthe wristpin 20 which has its ends supported in bearings 35 of the walls of thepiston 12.

The cylinder 10 is provided with a water jacket 36 and this water jacketis bolted to a flange 3'7 on the section 13 of th crank case and also toa head 38. 4

. Bolts 39 securely fasten a flange 40 of a boiler 41 to thecylinderhead 38 and these bolts likewise secure the cylinder head to the top ofthe water jacket and cylinder. p

A passage 42 extends through the water jacket in the cylinder and isconnected to a pipe 43 for supplying atmospheric air to the compressionchamber 11.

The cylinder head 38 is hollow, as shown at 45, and this is incommunication with the boiler 41 so that a portion of the water from theboiler will enter the cylinder head; A pipe 46 is connected to a pipe 47so that waterfrom the jacket 36 may flow into the boiler 41 but a checkvalve 48 prevents the water from the boiler entering the water jacket. Aconnection, asshown at 49,

is controlled by a valve 50 for supplying the boiler 41 with apredetermined quantity of water when necessary. An inlet pipe 51 isconnected with the lower end of the water jacket 36 for supplying waterto the water jacket.

The boiler 41 is provided with a lateral extension 52 and a cap nut 53by means of a sight glass 54 which closes the end of the extension 52.This extension is in communication with the boiler 41 so that theoperator may inspect the water -in the boiler bymeans of the sight glass54.-

The boiler is provided with a steam discharge pipe 55, an indicator 56,and a safety valve 5'7. A radiator, generally indicated by the numeral60, is located in the boiler 41 and is adapted to be submerged inlthewater in the boiler. This -ra diator consists of a header 61, a header62, a centrally disposed pipe 63, and a plurality of pipes 64 connectingthe headers adjacent their periphenes.

is threaded into an opening 66 in the head 38 of the compressor cylinder10. A plug 67 is threaded into the hollow nipple and has a restrictedaxial passage 68 for placing the compression chamber 11' incommunication with a header 62. The passage 68 is located in thelongitudinal axis of the tube 63.. A conicallyshaped member 70 dependsfrom the inner face of the outer wall of the'header ,61 and projectsacross the top of the vertical tube 63. Thus it will b seen that whencompressed air enters the 3 it will be forced radially from the centerof any suitable materials which will rapidly radiateheat from thecompressed air.

The operation of our device is as follows: When the'air compressor isoperating this air pump is conveniently driven by an electric motor orother suitable power plant. Air is compressed in the chamber 39 while atthe same time the air passes through the restricted passage 68 in theplug 67 and enters the header 62. Since the passage 68 is directly inline with the tube 63 most/of the compressed air will pass through thetube 63 'into the header 61 whence it will be spread out in alldirections by the member 70 and it will enter the tubes 64. Theconstruction just described provides for not only placing the upper endof the piston partially uncovers the 'pipe 55 and used for an! suitablepurpose. As"

The head 62 is provided with a nipple 65 which boiler connected directlyto the head of the comair in contact with a large radiating surface butprovides for the proper circulation of the air in the radiator 60.

0n the downward stroke of the piston 12, the passage 42. At this pointof piston travel, due to. the partial vacuum, a portion of the air fromthe atmosphere will enter the chamberll. When the air pressure inchamber 11 is equal to the atmospheric pressure and before passage 42 isclosed by the upward stroke of piston 12, the remaining air underpressure in radiator 60 is 'of its own pressure being forced throughre-' stricted axial passage 68 into chamber 11, caus- 1 ing the airpressure in chamber to increase the flow out through passage 42, thuscompleting a partial interchange of the complete volume of air inchamber 11 and radiator 60. Due to the compression of the. air inchamber 11 and the friction" of the' air being forced through restrictedaxial passage 68 'into radiator 60, a great deal of heat is'developedandthis is imparted to the water in the boiler 14 which creates steam. Thissteam is drawn off bythe has been stated this compact unit is especiallyadapted for use in those establishments where it is impractical toinstall a steam plant of the usual type such as a cleaning and dyeingestab lishment, .or aclothes pressing plant, and this apparatus may beused in those plants where it is necessary 'to have steam fortreatingcotton seed. This device'is not to be limited to the commercialenterprises noted above since many other uses may be found for thepurpose.

We claim:

'1. A steam generating apparatus comprising an air compressor having acylinder and hollow head, a boiler in direct communication with the.head of the compressor cylinder and having a steamdome above the waterlevel in the boiler,

a heat radiating means having a single restricted means for placing saidradiating means in com munication with the air compressor and surroundedby the water in the boiler so that heated pressor including a cylinderhaving a head,'a H

boiler secured to'said head and provided with a steam dome above thewater level in said boiler, spaced headers, tubes connecting theheadera'one of the headers being in restricted communication with thecylinder, the heated air from the cylinder being adapted to'circulate inheaders and tubes, said headers being located in the boiler.

3. A steam generating apparatus comprising an air compressor'having acylinder-and head, a j V pressor cylinder and having a steam dome abovethe water level in theboil'er, a heat radiating means in communicationwith the air compressor and surrounded by the water in the boiler sothat heated air from the compressor may becirculated in the radiatingmeans, the heat radiating means including a single restricted means forplacing the radiating means in communication with the cylinder, a waterjacket embracing the cylinder, and means for placing the boilerincommunication with the water jacket. I

4. A steam generator comprising an air cqnpressorincluding a cylinderhaving a heatlt a boiler secured to said head and provided with a steamdome above the water level in said boiler, 15..

a pair of spaced headers in the boiler, tubes connecting the headers,one or the headers being in restricted communication with the cylinder,one of the tubes being disposed axially of the headers and in line withthe restricted communication, means in the other header and disposedadjacent one end of said tube for causing compressed air from the tubeto radiate in all directions towards-the open ends of the other tubes.

5. A steam generator comprising an air compressor including a cylinderhaving a head, a boiler secured to said head and provided with a steamdome, a pair of spaced headers in the boiler and in open communicationwith each other, one of the headers being in restricted communicationwith the cylinder.

6'..A steam generator comprising an air compressor including a cylinderhaving a head, a boiler secured to said head and provided with a steamdome, a pair of spaced headers in the boiler and in open communicationwith each other, one of the headers being in restricted communicationwith the cylinder, the last mentioned header having a nipple the headhaving a passage into which the nipple is threaded. o 7. A steamgenerator comprising an air compressor including a cylinder having ahead, a boiler secured to said head and provided with a steam dome, apair of spaced headers in the boiler and in open communication with eachother, one of the'headers having a hollow nipple,- the head having apassage into which the nipple is threaded, means threaded into thehollow nip-, ple and provided with a passage for placing the cylindersin restricted communication with the headers.

8. A steam generator comprising an air compressor including a cylinder,a boiler, a cylinder head between the boiler and cylinder, the headhaving a water jacket in communication with the boiler, a pair of spacedheaders in the boiler, tubes placing the headers in communication witheach other, one of the headers being partially located in the waterjacket of the cylinder head, said header having a restrictedcommunication with the cylinder. and supported by the cylinder head, andmeans for supplying a limited quantity of atmospheric air to thecylinder on the expansion stroke of the piston. y

JAMES L. WALL. PRA'I'I A. CAR'I'lEIR.

